Blair dedicated his rookie season to proving the 29 teams that passed on selecting him in the 2009 draft had made a major mistake. His ascension to a starting spot on one of the NBA's elite teams is gratifying affirmation of his place in the NBA.

"Starting in the NBA is a big thing for anybody who's in the NBA," he said. "Getting minutes is another big thing, and being smart.

"He's giving me the opportunity, and I'm going to take full advantage of it and try to be the best I can be."

Popovich asked Blair to work hard this summer to reduce both his weight and percentage of body fat. When Blair reported to camp at just less than 8 percent body fat, down from 14 percent, and at 265 pounds - 15 under his rookie season playing weight - the Spurs coach saw a quicker, more efficient big man. He started him in the preseason opener in Houston on Oct. 7 and has seen nothing to make him rethink his decision.

The Spurs coach knows that starting is a big step for the young big man, but Popovich likes how Blair has handled the responsibility.

"It's coming pretty quick for him, and I think he's handled it well," Popovich said. "He's still got a ways to go, but I think playing with those guys will help him improve and understand what's necessary more quickly.

"He's got to get some habits so that he's consistent, mostly at the defensive end, and disciplined about what has to happen, and I think playing with those guys is going to help him do that."

Ginobili is back in the starting lineup after starting only 21 games last season, most of them after a hand injury put Parker on the injured list on March 6. After being on the same bench unit as Blair most of last season, Ginobili is happy for the chance to open games with him.

"I think we both love playing with each other," Ginobili said. "I know what he's capable of doing. I know where he is going to be in every offense, so when I have the ball and play a pick-and-roll with him, I know where he's going to cut.

"He has great hands, and he knows that he's got to be expecting a pass from me. We have developed a good relationship, and we try to keep getting better."

That Blair should be starting at such a tender age forced some memories from Ginobili. The reverie enhanced his admiration for Blair's maturity.

"Me, at 21?" he said. "That's a long time ago. I was just making it to the second division in Italy. I didn't understand the game. I know now, at 33, the kind of player I was at 21. I had no clue.

"Of course, I could score, I was athletic and I had some moves. But knowledge of the game, I didn't have. I didn't care about playing 'D;' I didn't care about my teammates. I just wanted to score and play good for myself.

"I see (DeJuan) play at 21, and sometimes we are too demanding on him, which is natural, because we want to win. But he's got such a long career ahead of him and so many things to learn and improve.

"He's doing it quick and well. It's remarkable."

Ginobili, the 2007-08 Sixth Man Award winner, the only such winner to also earn All-NBA honors in the same season, laughed about Popovich's decision to put him back on the starting unit.

"I have no idea whatsoever what he's going to do and how long it's going to take him to go back and forward and back and forward again," he said. "So it's not a big deal. Whatever he thinks is better for the team is what I've always said.

"Probably I'm going to start at the beginning of the season, but as soon as we need something to change, I know what is going to happen. I don't mind. It's fine."